Barcelona boss downplays importance of Real Madrid clash
Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola has attempted to downplay the importance of his side's first match against La Liga title rivals Real Madrid this season, claiming that the El Clasico fixture on Monday 29 November carries no more significance than any other
game.
With the Spanish giants separated by just one point at the top of the Primera Division standings, the match will go some way towards determining which club will end the season as champions.
However, Guardiola is opting to focus on the upcoming match away to Almeria on Saturday 20 November and distanced himself from any talk of Madrid in a press conference.
He told reporters, "For everything that is said that surrounds the (Madrid) game it is better to be quiet. The best thing at this stage, is silence.
"I do not want to talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. I am selfish. I want to hear more talk about Almeria, because we will be playing them shortly. Each El Clasico seems like the last, and it also seems as if the world will end around it. All
we will do is to try and make a great game."
Guardiola also revealed that he would likely be missing Eric Abidal for the Almeria game after the France international suffered from a knock in training, while Gerard Pique will have to tread carefully if he plays in the match, as he is just one booking away
from a suspension which will rule him out of El Clasico.
If Barca are to overcome Madrid, they will have to beat a side which has yet to lose a game in any competition this season after strengthening over the summer.
Madrid also brought in Jose Mourinho as head coach (this summer) and signed the likes of Argentina international Angel di Maria, as well as Germany's 2010 FIFA World Cup stars Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira.
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